School Program in La Loche Promoting Peace
Tuesday, June 08, 2004 at 13:40
A program initially started in India to reduce schoolyard bullying has since proven itself to be an effective teaching tool in northern Saskatchewan.
“The Families Project” was adopted last year by Dene High School in La Loche. which had experienced frequent trouble with students getting into violent disagreements and fights.
However, after almost a year of observation, teachers at the school report a definite change in student behaviour and credit the program with making the difference.
La Loche mayor Georgina Jolibois says she believes the program’s spiritually-driven emphasis on moral values is the reason behind its success.
Jolibois says the program had students put into virtual family units where they were given control over various aspects of their daily lives.
She says that by combining different grade levels and teachers in the groups, the school has achieved a level of harmony that has never been there before.